Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept

Benz's punchy design concept ponders the question: Could the G-Class survive through 2025?

With its breadbox styling and paramilitary roots, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class—or Geländewagn, if you're funky—is about as close to an automotive cockroach as you'll find. Furthering the idea of outlandish four-wheeled longevity is the Ener-G-Force, which postulates a law enforcement-inspired vision of the offroader as suggested by this year's LA Auto Show Design Challenge theme of "Highway Patrol Vehicle 2025."

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Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept

Fearsome, Functional... and Sustainable

It wouldn't be a future vehicle concept if it didn't involve some sort of eco-conscious energy solution, and so the Ener-G-Force's motivational underpinnings are structured around a "hydro-tech converter" fuel cell drivetrain with an estimated cruising range of 500 miles. The concept assumes rapid miniaturization and evolution of existing alternative fuel technology, with roof-mounted tanks feeding recycled water into the powertrain for conversion into energy. Four wheel-hub motors use individually calibrated output for optimum traction, and energy storage units or hot-swappable battery packs are integrated into the vehicle's side skirts.

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Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept

Thought this hulking offroader certainly looks tough enough to traverse all manner of obstacles, it's imagined with a roof-mounted "Terra-Scan" device which evaluates surrounding surfaces and automatically adjusts the suspension's spring and damper rates for optimum maneuverability—presumably leading to the expedient apprehension of bad guys, of course. A bit more rooted in reality are details like the pull-out toolbox which occupies the spare tire-like hump on the rear hatch and the color-coded rocker panel lights which indicate degree of battery charge.

Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force Concept

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Organic Roots

The full-scale Ener-G-Force concept was penned—or shall we say, sculpted—by designer Hubert Lee, who was also responsible for the current era CLS. As such, this particular four-wheeled expression offers a fanciful but forceful portrayal of future all-wheel drive law enforcement, less in keeping with the G-Class's traditional ruler-sharp lineography and more along the lines of an über SUV of the future, with the few carryover G-Class style trademarks including cues like fender-mounted turn signal and running lights. From that perspective, Mercedes-Benz's description of the Ener-G-Force being an expression of "intensity and tension" is spot on—and precisely the reason why we'd love to see one of these bad boys patrolling our streets some day.